About

Wes Woodell

Hi, my name’s Wes, and I’m a wreck.

I grew up in stable home with a Christian family that loves me.

Unbeknownst to them (until I told them as a fully grown man), I suffered abuse at an early age that caused me to grow up feeling like something was inherently wrong with me. To combat that feeling, I sought to prove my worth in all that I did. I tied my self-worth to performance, and, driven by a deep sense of insecurity, became a consummate over-achiever when it came to activities that would garner me positive attention and pats on the back.

Talk about a recipe for instability.

When my performance was good I felt great about myself to the point of arrogantly looking down on others. When it was bad, I felt horrible to the point of despair, wondering why I was alive and if I really should be.

This way of being started early in life – think three or four years old – and took me on a journey that included serious drug and alcohol abuse as a teen, pushing for a break in the mass media/entertainment industry a little later, and, starting in my early twenties, a venture into full-time Christian ministry.

In just the past couple of years I’ve been blessed to get help that’s allowing me to see these unhealthy patterns for the first time and to get at the root of the sin driving them in order to repent.

All that to say this: I’m a wreck, but I’m also a work in progress, and that’s why I write – because I believe you are too and we can help one another.

You see, I’ve come to believe that, for all people, life is a journey toward becoming something more.

We’re either becoming more like Jesus – full of life, light, and goodness – or we’re becoming more like the darkness Jesus came to fight against.

All of us are becoming something more, but what we’re becoming more of depends on who or what we’re most loyal to.

This blog is for people who want their first loyalty to be to Jesus – people who want to become more like Him and to help others do the same.

I’m writing from the perspective of a fellow-traveler on that journey with you. It is my intention to write humbly from the perspective of a fellow learner.

Some posts will be aimed at individual Christians, others at church leaders, but all will have a tie-in to becoming like Jesus through individual discipleship or helping others become like Jesus through evangelism, mentoring or some form of Christian ministry.

Posts may include content related to my own personal development as a disciple of Christ and church leader or to Bible study and theology, Christian counseling, church leadership, or church planting and ministry models. Regardless of the specific topic, most everything on this site will likely fall under the larger umbrella of Christian discipleship and evangelism of some kind.

If you’re supportive of what you’re reading, please do me a favor and subscribe.

I believe if a man has something to say he should say it, and if he doesn’t he should keep his mouth shut.

I don’t always have something to say, so writing is somewhat sporadic here. If you like what I produce the best way to keep up-to-date is to subscribe. I will write new content as I’m inspired and as I have time. My family and local ministry are my first priorities.

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Thanks for your support!

MY CHURCH

My church is great! If you’re anywhere near the St. Louis area, you should join us on a Sunday.

CONTACT

14 Replies

Keith D. Stefanko, R.N.

Wes was my roommate while in Tampa (he had a room in my wife and my house). While I could dish dirt as a former roomie, I choose to say that both hs wife and he are some of the “happy memeories” in my Chrisitan walk, as they learned, matured, met one another, married and grew up through the only ministry I’ve ever known. May God bless their every step in this epic journey! A.P.E.X. misses thier participation… but we gladly give them up to BIGGER & BETTER works in the LORD!!!

Wes and Airiel are loved and respected deeply by this church and by the CIA Ministry. Wes clearly has a heart for God and His Will. His lovely wife Airiel was baptised in this ministry and has been responsible for many coming to Christ. She is a strong, Godly woman and will keep Wes on the straight and narrow. We love you guys!

Blessings to you all

Tony

rogueminister

Brother I am glad I finally got around to checking out your blog. We have a lot of places where our stories cross, including harding, Levy coC, the underground, and the new outpost blog. Anyway, thanks for writing, ministering, serving and blessing. I look forward to checking back and see whats going on with the West Coast Witness.

Blessings and Shalom

You’ve got an interesting ministry going and I hope you bring many people into the kingdom through your work. One plants, another waters, but God gives the increase.

I see someone from your blog dropped in to visit my blog today. Thanks for visiting and I hope you something interesting. There’s quite a variety of topics from Bible reviews and politics to sermons and Bible study questions. Come again.

Charlotte

Just went through much of the information on your site and really enjoyed it. Happy you were able to be with family recently. I know it was good to be together. Hope the fingers are healing well. One of the little girls from our congregation had a very bad experience with a bathroom door at Mickey D’s. She required surgery! So good to hear Airiel’s voice. Will try to return the call and we do think of you guys and pray for you and the work there.

Wes and Airiel
Have been looking at the web-site, and it is so exciting to see you doing the Lord’s work. I will be praying for you and your family to continue to do the work that you are doing.

Dear Brother Wes,
Thank you and appreciate you for your hard work through campus ministry . I hope many souls will be added into Christ through your strenuous efforts. keep up good work and please keep us and my youth ministry in your daily prayers.
Your Brother,
E.Jayaraj, India

I don’t even know you but you seem to be loved very much and genuine person as well. God bless you and your family. Keep up the work for God.

joyce

this will be an indepth ongoing discovery into your soul as you continue climbing out of your own darkness reaching & clinging to that glimmer of light … hope ….strengthening your faith & ultimately finding God’s grace & mercy … through this journey you will be an inspiration to others suffering from realizing their own abundant worth in God’s eyes.
Good Luck Wes!
im sure Mr Jim & Ms Geraldine are very proud of you. i truly miss them at Romance.

My name’s Wes. I write about lessons I’m learning as I try to follow Jesus and help others do the same. Like what you’re reading? Enter your email to get the latest posts direct in your inbox along with other free stuff only available to subscribers:

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About the Author

Wes became a Christian in his early twenties and remains passionate about following Jesus and helping others do the same. He’s also served in church leadership of some kind for more than a decade despite his sketchy past and ongoing struggles with insecurity, addiction and various other sins and weaknesses. You can read more about him here.